Carry handle for scoped firearm

ABSTRACT

A carry handle device for a firearm having a telescope mounted thereto has an elongate handgrip member having end portions each defining laterally spaced adjustment holes. Support strap members extend about the barrel of the telescope of a scoped firearm and have end portions that form support loops that extend loosely about the telescope of a firearm and provide support for the firearm and telescope assembly and permit the carry handle device to pivot to an out of the way position during aiming and firing. Fastener members such as cross-bolt assemblies connect through adjustment holes of the handgrip member and support strap members and permit simple and efficient horizontal carrying of the firearm and telescope assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally concerns carrying or transportation of firearms by a firearm user and more particularly concerns hand carrying of a firearm, such as a rifle, having an image magnifying telescope mounted thereto; generally referred to herein as a “scoped firearm”. More specifically the present invention concerns a carry handle device that is adapted to engage and be temporarily secured to the telescope of a firearm, thus providing the firearm user with the capability to manually carry the scoped firearm and quickly and efficiently aim and discharge the firearm as needed without any need to remove the carry handle device from the firearm.

Description of the Prior Art

Especially in the case of firearms used by the military and law enforcement it is desirable that firearms, such as rifles, be carried in a condition of readiness for use as conditions dictate. For that reason some firearms, such as the AR-10, AR-15 and AR-16 semi-automatic rifle and automatic rifles for example, are provided with carry handles that are molded into the metal receiver or are fixed to the receiver of a firearm. Typically, firearms having these fixed carry handles also have elevated front and rear sights so that the carry handles do not interfere with aiming and firing of the firearm.

Many firearms for use by gun owners for sporting use and military firearms provide for carrying capability by a sling that permits the user to carry the firearm by placing the sling over the shoulder of the user. However, in the case of emergencies or when readiness of a firearm is desired, support of a firearm by means of a sling for carrying requires a considerable amount of time for demounting the firearm from a user's shoulder and preparing the firearm for aiming and firing. Many firearms that are used for the enjoyment of shooting, such as .22 or other small caliber rifles, are often carried by users who may be simply walking in terrain where shooting or plinking is permitted. Users often carry such rifles so that they are oriented substantially horizontally or supported by the user's shoulder. Either of these carry positions can become uncomfortable to the user in a short period of time.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide a simple and efficient carry handle device that can easily be employed to provide a carry handle device for engagement with the telescope of a scoped firearm to enable a user to support and carry a scoped firearm generally horizontally and being adjustable to accommodate firearms having different centers of gravity. It is also desirable to provide a carry handle device for scoped firearms that is substantially automatically moveable to a position that does not interfere with aiming and firing of the scoped firearm when the user shifts the firearm from its carry position to the position for aiming and firing.

Handguns having telescopes, lasers or other such sighting devices are often carried by users for the enjoyment of shooting activities. Though a scoped handgun can be carried on a user's person in a specially designed holster, most often scoped handguns are simply carried by the user's hand due to the size and shape of the handgun and telescope assembly. It is desirable therefore to provide a unique and light weight carry handle device that can be employed to facilitate hand carrying a scoped handgun in much the same way as hand carrying a briefcase or other small luggage case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings are incorporated as a part hereof.

It is to be noted however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typical embodiment of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration showing a portion of a scoped firearm and showing a carrying handle manufactured according to the teachings of the present invention being mounted to the telescope of the firearm and facilitating manual carrying of the firearm in a condition of readiness for quick and efficient aiming and firing;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view showing a scoped firearm having a different type of telescope as compared with FIG. 1 and showing the carry handle of FIG. 1 mounted to the telescope and showing the hand of a user gripping the upper handgrip portion of the carry handle for supporting the scoped firearm, thus permitting the user to carry the scoped firearm oriented substantially horizontally;

FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration showing side and end views of the carry handle of FIGS. and 2 and further showing the adjustable support straps thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view isometric illustration showing one end of the carry handle of FIGS. 1-3 having a support strap extended about one end portion of the telescope and further showing adjustment holes for selective adjustment of the position of the support strap and handgrip;

FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration taken from the rear portion of the firearm, showing the position of the carry handle of the present invention during aiming and firing of the firearm;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric illustration showing an end portion of the carry handle of the present invention and showing intermediate position adjustment of the support strap with respect to the handgrip thereof;

FIG. 6 is an isometric illustration showing the adjustment holes of the support strap and a two-piece cross bolt assembly that is installed in selective ones of the adjustment holes.

FIG. 7 is an isometric illustration showing support straps of the carry handle apparatus and showing holes in the straps within which cross bolt fastener assemblies are received to secure intermediate portions of the carry straps in adjusted assembly;

FIG. 8 is an isometric illustration showing a first section of a cross bolt fastener assembly; and

FIG. 9 is another isometric illustration showing a second section of a cross bolt fastener assembly for threaded assembly with the first section of FIG. 8 to secure the carry straps in releasably connected relation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a scoped firearm 10 is partially shown which has a receiver 12 having a telescope mount 14 defining a mounting rail 16 of the Picatinny or Weaver type to which a telescope 18 is secured to the firearm by telescope mounting rings 20 and 22 of the telescope mount in typical fashion. The term “scoped firearm” as used herein is intended to mean a rifle, shotgun, handgun or other firearm device having a telescope, laser sight or any number of other sighting devices fixed thereto by means of a sight mount 17 and projecting upwardly typically from the receiver or frame 12 of the firearm.

A carry handle device, shown generally at 30, and manufactured according to the principles of the present invention, is shown in supporting assembly with the firearm 10 by having supporting engagement with the barrel 26 of the telescope 18 adjacent the mounting rings 20 and 22 of the telescope mount 17 of the firearm. Though the carry handle device 30 of this invention may be constructed of metal material, polymer material or a composite of such materials, the carry handle device is preferably constructed of a top grain leather such as fine and durable saddle leather having a smooth and durable exterior surface 21 and a soft and protective inner surface 23, also referred to herein as a suede surface for protective engagement with the cylindrical barrel portion 26 of a telescope.

The carry handle device 30 incorporates a handgrip member 32 that is formed from a single panel of leather or other suitable material that is folded back upon itself in a manner that, due to the stiffness of the material, forms a smooth and comfortable handgrip, much like the handgrip of a conventional briefcase. The folded panel material of the handgrip member 32 is stitched along its upper and side portions as shown at 34 and defines a smoothly curved lower elongate handle surface 36 that is comfortable to the hand of the user and permits comfortable hand carrying of a scoped firearm for significant periods of time. When the folded and stitched panel material is composed of durable saddle quality leather, the smooth durable leather surface defines the smoothly curved lower elongate handle surface 36, thus presenting a durable and comfortable handle surface for contact by the user's hand.

The folded material of the handgrip member 32, due to the stiffness of the material, defines an elongate opening or passage 38 and provides the handgrip member 30 with considerable structural integrity so that carrying a scoped firearm for an extended period of time will not become uncomfortable to the hand of the user and will resist sagging or other deformation the handgrip member. If additional stiffness of the handgrip member 32 is desired as shown in FIG. 4 a length of stiffening material 33 such as a wooden dowel, a metal rod, an elongate polymer stiffener or the like may be inserted through the elongate opening or passage 38. However, it has been determined by tests that construction of the carry handle 32 of the carry handle device 30 from rather stiff high-quality saddle leather effectively resists deformation of the carry handle due to the weight of standard small caliber rifles and the typical weight of commercially available hunting rifles as well as many types of tactical rifles, such as the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and the M-16 full automatic rifle for example.

Since commercially available scoped firearms are available in different sizes and weights and have differing centers of gravity, it is desirable that the carry handle device 30 be adjustable to accommodate these firearm differences. This feature is accomplished in part by providing end portions of the handgrip member 32 with spaced upwardly projecting adjustment tabs 40 and 42, each having laterally spaced adjustment elements 44 that permit selective lateral adjustment of the position of the handgrip 32 relative to support members to accommodate differences in the center of gravity of various commercially available scoped firearms. The laterally spaced adjustment elements are preferably defined by laterally spaced adjustment holes that selectively receive connector elements, such as cross-bolt assemblies 50 or any other connection devices as explained in detail below. Alternatively, the handgrip member 32 may have a substantially straight upper edge 35 as shown in FIG. 2 with the upper edge portion having pluralities of laterally spaced adjustment elements such as adjustment holes 44 at each end portion thereof. To ensure ease of carrying a firearm such as a rifle in a substantially horizontal position and to selectively position the handgrip member above the receiver and telescope of the firearm, the user is enabled to select the adjustment elements of the handgrip member that compensate for differences in the center of gravity, thus enabling the user to simply and easily adapt the carry handle device 30 to match the center of gravity of the firearm the user selects to carry about.

A pair of adjustable support members, preferably in the form of support straps 46 and 48 also formed from leather, preferably saddle quality leather or other suitable material, depend from the handgrip member 32 and are of sufficient length to extend from the handgrip member 32 and provide supporting loops 29 and 31 about the barrel portion 26 of the telescope 18. As is typical of saddle quality leather, the leather material has a relatively hard and durable exterior side surface and a soft “suede” interior side surface. It is desirable to protect the smooth external finish of the tubular metal barrel of a telescope, to ensure that only the soft suede surface of the leather material will have contact with the barrel of the telescope. Regardless of the material from which the carry handle device is composed and particularly the material of the support straps 46 and 48, a soft protective strap surface will be the only material surface in contact with the telescope barrel.

The support straps 46 and 48 have end portions 47 and 49 that are secured to the adjustment tabs 40 and 42 or other portions of the handgrip member 32 by means of fastener devices such as fastener assemblies 50 or any of a number of other types of fastener devices. Two-piece cross-bolt fastener assemblies 50, such as are conventionally employed for securing saddle leather components in assembly, have been found quite acceptable for this purpose. Various types of fastener devices or bolt assemblies may be employed to secure the carry handle components in assembly. Preferably the fastener devices are connected through selective adjustment holes 34 located intermediate the lengths of the support straps 46 and 48 as needed to position the handgrip member 32 in selectively spaced relation with the upper portion of the telescope 18 as desired by the user. The support loops 31 are intended to have sufficiently loose position about the barrel of the telescope such that release of manual force on the elongate carry handle 36 permits the carry handle device 30 to rotate downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 5 so that it does not interfere with aiming and firing of the firearm.

As shown in FIG. 7 each of the cross-bolt fastener assemblies 50 is of two-piece construction having a first cross-bolt section member 53 having an internally threaded generally cylindrical bolt shaft 54 to which is affixed a generally circular bolt head 56 defining a curved bolt head surface 57 and having a generally planar lower surface 58. A second cross-bolt section member 60 has an externally threaded bolt shaft 62 to which a generally circular bolt head 64 is fixed. The circular bolt head 64 has a surface 68 that may be of planar configuration or may be of curved configuration as desired.

Use of the Carry Handle Device:

The user of a scoped firearm can position the carry handle device above the telescope of the firearm and extend the support straps in the form of a loop about the barrel portion 26 and position the cross-bolt holes of the ends of each of the support straps in alignment with a selected one of the laterally spaced adjustment holes 44 of the adjustment tabs 40 and 42. The cross-bolt section member is then positioned in the aligned holes of the ends of the support straps, being careful to select the adjustment hole 44 of the adjustment tabs 40 and 42 that will accommodate the center of gravity of the particular firearm with which the carry handle device is being used. The second cross-bolt section member 60 is then inserted into the aligned holes and the externally threaded shaft 62 is threaded into the internally threaded receptacle of the bolt shaft 54. A simple tool such as a screwdriver having a drive blade is positioned to engage within the slot 66 of the bolt head 64 and is rotated to make up the threaded connection, bringing the bolt head surfaces 58 and 67 into tight engagement with respective outer surfaces of the support straps. With the support straps selectively fixed to the handgrip member 32 the user of the firearm will simply grasp the handgrip member thus supporting the firearm in substantially horizontal position, enabling the user to carry the firearm much like carrying a briefcase. It has been determined through tests that a user will be able to carry the firearm in this position for extended periods of time, enabling the user to carry the scoped firearm during long walks without tiring.

It is desirable that the support members or straps have a loose-fitting relationship with the barrel 26 of the telescope 18 so that the carry handle device can move pivotally and substantially automatically, due mostly to the weight of the handgrip member, from a carry position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 to an out of the way position shown in FIG. 5 when the handgrip member 32 is released from the user's hand and the firearm is raised for aiming and firing. The tightness of the support strap loops 29 and 31 about the barrel 26 of the telescope is determined by selective placement of a cross-bolt through intermediate adjustment holes 49 of the elongate support members or straps 46 and 48. The support strap loops 29 and 31 have loose engagement about the barrel of the telescope so that virtually no scratching or frictional resistance will be developed between the suede inner strap surface and the telescope barrel. The adjustment holes 49 are selected and the cross-bolts placed so that the loops 29 and 31 of the support straps 46 and 48 will have sufficiently loose engagement about the barrel 26 of the telescope simple release of the handgrip 32 by the user will permit pivotal movement of the carry handle device from the carry position to the out of the way position shown in FIG. 5 so that the carry handle device will not interfere with aiming and firearm of the firearm. After aiming and firing, the user will simply return to the carry handle device carry position of FIG. 1 by grasping the handgrip 32 and pivotally raising it to the carry position.

In view of the foregoing it is evident that the present invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects and features hereinabove set forth, together with other objects and features which are inherent in the apparatus disclosed herein.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

I claim:
 1. A carry handle device for a firearm having a telescope mounted thereto, comprising: an elongate handgrip member having end portions; a plurality of support members being connected with said end portions of said handgrip member and each forming a support loop for supporting engagement with the telescope of a firearm and having sufficient structural integrity to support the combined weight of a firearm and telescope assembly, and fastener members securing said elongate handgrip and said plurality of support members in assembly having adjustable positions to establish substantially horizontal carry position of firearm and telescope assemblies having differing centers of gravity.
 2. The carry handle device of claim 1, comprising: each of said end portions of said elongate handgrip member having a connection element; said plurality of support members each having a connection member being aligned with said connection element; and said fastener members having a first part extending through said aligned connection element and connection member and a second part connected with said first part and securing said plurality of support members to selected adjustment positions on said end portions of said handgrip member.
 3. The carry handle device of claim 1, comprising: each of said end portions of said elongate handgrip member having a plurality of laterally spaced adjustment holes; said plurality of support members each having ends defining a connection hole; said connection holes of said ends of said plurality of support members being in alignment with a selected one of said laterally spaced adjustment holes; and said fastener members engaging within said aligned laterally spaced adjustment holes and securing said ends of said plurality of support members at selected adjustment holes of said handgrip member.
 4. The carry handle device of claim 3, comprising: each of said fastener members being cross-bolt assemblies having a first part defining an internally threaded shaft and a second part having an externally threaded shaft having threaded engagement within said internally threaded shaft.
 5. The carry handle device of claim 1, comprising: said plurality of support members being elongate strap members each having a connection member being aligned with said connection element; and said elongate strap members each having spaced connector elements located intermediate the length hereof and being selectively aligned to establish a desired size of said support loop of said elongate strap members; and said fastener members having retaining engagement with said aligned connection member and connector element.
 6. The carry handle device of claim 1, comprising: said plurality of support members each having a smooth durable exterior surface and having a soft interior protective supporting surface defining an interior surface of said support loop for protective supporting engagement with a telescope of a firearm and telescope assembly.
 7. The carry handle device of claim 6, comprising: said plurality of support members being composed of durable leather defining said smooth durable exterior surface and an inner suede surface being said soft interior protective supporting surface.
 8. The carry handle device of claim 1, comprising: said fastener members being cross-bolt assemblies having a first part defining an internally threaded shaft extending through said aligned connection holes and having a bolt head and a second part having an externally threaded shaft receivable within said internally threaded shaft and having a bolt head defining a tool receptacle enabling relative rotation of said first and second parts of said cross-bolt assemblies for assembly and disassembly.
 9. The carry handle device of claim 1, comprising: said elongate handgrip member being defined by panel material folded upon itself and being stitched at an upper portion thereof and side portions thereof and defining a smoothly curved elongate handle surface for comfortable contact by a hand of a firearm user.
 10. The carry handle device of claim 9, comprising: said panel material being saddle quality leather.
 11. A carry handle device for a firearm having a telescope mounted thereto, comprising: an elongate handgrip member having end portions and defining upwardly projecting adjustment tabs at each of said end portions, each of said adjustment tabs defining a plurality of laterally spaced adjustment positions; a plurality of support members each being connected at a selected one of said laterally spaced adjustment positions of said end portions of said handgrip member and each forming a support loop for supporting engagement with the telescope of a firearm and having sufficient structural integrity to engage a telescope and support the combined weight of a firearm and telescope assembly, and fastener members securing said elongate handgrip and said plurality of support members in releasable and adjustable assembly at adjustable positions establishing substantially horizontal carry positioning of firearm and telescope assemblies having differing centers of gravity.
 12. The carry handle device of claim 11, comprising: said upwardly projecting adjustment tabs each defining laterally spaced adjustment holes defining said plurality of laterally spaced adjustment positions permitting selected laterally spaced adjustment of the positions of said adjustable support members relative to said handgrip member; said plurality of adjustable support members each having ends defining a connection hole being aligned with a selected one of said laterally spaced adjustment holes; and said fastener members having a first part extending through said aligned connection element and connection member and a second part connected with said first part and securing said plurality of support members to selected adjustment positions on said end portions of said handgrip member.
 13. The carry handle device of claim 11, comprising: each of said end portions of said elongate handgrip member having a plurality of laterally spaced adjustment holes; said plurality of support members each having ends defining a connection hole; said connection holes of said ends of said plurality of support members being in alignment with a selected one of said laterally spaced adjustment holes; and said fastener members engaging within said aligned laterally spaced adjustment holes and securing said ends of said plurality of support members at selected adjustment holes of said handgrip member.
 14. The carry handle device of claim 13, comprising: each of said fastener members being cross-bolt assemblies having a first part defining an internally threaded shaft and a second part having an externally threaded shaft having threaded engagement within said internally threaded shaft.
 15. The carry handle device of claim 11, comprising: said plurality of support members being elongate strap members each having a connection opening being aligned with a selected one of said laterally spaced adjustment holes; said elongate strap members each having spaced connector holes located intermediate the length hereof and being selectively aligned to establish a desired size of said support loop of each of said elongate strap members; and strap fastener members having retaining engagement with said aligned connection holes.
 16. The carry handle device of claim 11, comprising: said plurality of support members each having a smooth durable exterior surface and having a soft interior protective supporting surface defining an interior surface of said support loop for protective supporting engagement with a telescope of a firearm and telescope assembly.
 17. The carry handle device of claim 16, comprising: said plurality of support members being composed of durable leather defining said smooth durable exterior surface and an inner suede surface being said soft interior protective supporting surface.
 18. The carry handle device of claim 11, comprising: said fastener members being cross-bolt assemblies having a first part defining an internally threaded shaft extending through said aligned connection holes and having a bolt head and a second part having an externally threaded shaft receivable within said internally threaded shaft and having a bolt head defining a tool receptacle enabling relative rotation of said first and second parts of said cross-bolt assemblies for assembly and disassembly. 